(File Photo) An image from the U.S. Geological Survey shows a magnitude 6.5 tremblor in California measured on a seismograph on Dec. 22, 2003. / USGS via AFP/Getty Images

by John Bacon, USA TODAY

by John Bacon, USA TODAY

An magnitude-6.0 earthquake rattled northern Thailand on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake struck 6 miles south of Mae Lao and 17 miles southwest of the town of Chiang Rai, the USGS said. Tall buildings swayed in the Thai capital of Bangkok, 500 miles to the south. The quake also was felt in Yangon, the capital of neighboring Myanmar, the wire service Agence Franceā??Presse reported.

"There has been minor damage to buildings in Chiang Rai itself, some shops have goods scattered about and we're seeing cracks in buildings," a Chiang Rai police officer, who declined to be identified, told Reuters news service. "No injuries have been reported so far but we're hearing that some provincial roads have sustained some damage with large cracks appearing."

The quake initially was detected as magnitude-6.3, but the USGS slightly downgraded the severity minutes later. The region is mostly rural but is popular with tourists.